Coordinating Minister Yusril: Formation of Fact-Finding Team for Andrie Yunus Case Will Take Time

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Services (Menko Kumham Imipas) Yusril Ihza Mahendra has responded to demands for the formation of a Fact-Finding Team regarding the acid attack case against Andrie Yunus. Yusril stated that the government is not closing off the possibility of discussing the proposal. However, he admitted that he has not yet had the chance to discuss it directly with President Prabowo Subianto. “This issue has never been discussed internally within the government,” said Yusril, as quoted from his personal YouTube channel on Thursday (9/4). He explained that the President had previously emphasised that the handling of the case should be carried out through firm, swift, and measured legal steps by law enforcement authorities. “As we know, Puspom and Bareskrim Polri can act more quickly to gather facts in the field, conduct investigations, inquiries, up to the investigation stage,” he said. According to Yusril, the formation of a Fact-Finding Team could potentially take a long time because it requires a legal basis and clarity of authority. “Forming this fact-finding team requires a time-consuming process. Who will sit on it? What is the legal basis for its formation? Is it by Presidential Decree or what? What are its duties and powers?” he stated. He also assessed that such a team has advantages and disadvantages, including the possibility of involving parties who do not have adequate legal understanding. “I think this will be a long story, and in the end, the facts found will still be handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office,” he revealed. Yusril emphasised that a protracted process could hinder law enforcement, especially if the perpetrator has not been caught. “If that process is very slow, this person has already fled somewhere, while we want, as per the President’s directive, firm, swift, measured legal steps, we do it immediately,” he asserted. Furthermore, Yusril said he cannot yet convey the government’s official stance because it must be decided through a coordination meeting. “I cannot say ‘the government’ because for the government, it must be directed through a coordination meeting and await directions from the President,” he said. Personally, he believes the current legal process is already underway. He mentioned that the authorities have taken steps, including the arrest of the perpetrator by Puspom TNI. “But personally, I think the legal steps have already begun. They have been arrested and detained,” he clarified. Yusril also emphasised the importance of public oversight of the legal process to keep it transparent. “Now, how observers and the media will monitor what Puspom does, criticise the steps they take,” he said. He encouraged that there should be no impression of information closure in the ongoing legal process. “Continuously press them to be transparent. Do not let there be an impression that when this is taken over by Puspom, it seems like they want to cover something up,” he said. The government, continued Yusril, does not want any closure in handling the case and emphasises the importance of openness. “We want legal cases to be revealed thoroughly, openly, transparently,” he concluded.